Wow -- The Baby Has Taken Shape

The Casa has pretty much taken form. There are a few small exterior elements yet to be framed but the next three pictures are pretty much the shape of the house. I'm starting to realize the difference between drawings and true form. They really are two different things and it is fascinating to watch them merge, or maybe diverge is a better word. There are some minor changes from the plans, the biggest being opening up the second floor balcony, but otherwise it is very close to the drawings. And yet it is different.
My friend Enrique, an architect who I had showed the drawings to a few weeks ago, stopped by and was also impressed by the difference between drawings and true form. Being an architect I would have thought he would have been use to this but the intensity of his gazing at the place spoke volumes. He also verbalized the contrast.
I spent more than three years working on the design for this house, I poked and streched my favorite styles on the site. I commissioned a world famous artist, I worked with architectural designer friends, and eventually came up with the design I now see taking shape. Yet it's still a work in progress.

On paper this window looked enough to fill out the den, but to add another one is going to take a trip to the structural engineer and maybe a major reinforcement of this supporting wall. I think I should do it.
The "Y" sewer connection in the street was dug up this week.